Fringe-lipped bats, found in tropical rainforests from Panama to Brazil, have demonstrated a remarkable ability to differentiate between palatable and toxic frogs. A study involving adult and juvenile bats revealed that their responses to frog mating calls evolve with age and experience. While adults showed a clear preference for safer food options, juveniles exhibited interest in poisonous toads that adults ignored. This suggests that bats learn to eavesdrop on their environment to enhance their hunting efficiency, adapting their behavior as they mature.
The bats probably learn which frogs are worth pursuing over time, suggesting that juvenile bats initially respond to toxicity rather than palatability.
In contrast, juvenile bats responded strongly to unpalatable poisonous toads the adults ignored, highlighting learning and adaptation in their prey selection.
Collection
[
|
...
]